DEPUTY DA GOES OUT WITH A VICTORY

COURTS: But the freshly retired prosecutor will be back for Chavez's
sentencing.

There was a look of glee on the face of Deputy District Attorney Carl
Armbrust after a jury Thursday convicted Orange County Cannabis Co-op
founder Marvin Chavez of selling marijuana.

Thursday was Armbrust's last day with the District Attorney's Office.

He is now retired.

"I'll be back as a volunteer for the district attorney to handle the
sentencing," Armbrust, 77, said before leaving for a retirement party
planned for him at the El Toro Marine base Officer's Club.

Armbrust has been an Orange County prosecutor for 26 years and has headed
the narcotics squad for 18 years.

The Chavez case touched on the hot political issues surrounding Proposition
215, but involved less than $200 worth of marijuana.

"This case wasn't important enough to come to the narcotics bureau,"
Armbrust said.

The case went to a deputy on the felony panel, but the panel was overloaded
with "three strikes, you're out" cases and asked for prosecutors from other
bureaus to help. Armbrust said he volunteered, and by chance was given the
case.

Defense lawyers filed a motion to recuse Armbrust from the case because of
his crusade against drug use. A judge found no reason to remove him.

"They found I'm not prejudiced against anything but crime," Armbrust said.

On Thursday night, he was to receive a special commendation from Sen.
Dianne Feinstein for his drug prosecutions.

Checked-by: Pat Dolan